If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Little Help with my Green Cheek

Hi, I have a 4-4nahalf month Green cheek who's name is Floyd.
He's a great little bird and my first, however whenever he sits on my shoulder he tends to bite the freckles etc on my neck, Does any have effective strategies for putting an end to this?
Other than this, I can't fault him. (Everyone else can, it appears that after 3days he's already "My bird")
Thanks Zak

Re: Little Help with my Green Cheek

Originally Posted by Zak

Hi, I have a 4-4nahalf month Green cheek who's name is Floyd.
He's a great little bird and my first, however whenever he sits on my shoulder he tends to bite the freckles etc on my neck, Does any have effective strategies for putting an end to this?
Other than this, I can't fault him. (Everyone else can, it appears that after 3days he's already "My bird")
Thanks Zak

Easiest solution is to not allow him on your shoulder if he is going to nibble or bite.

I let Pickle chill out on my forearm or in the crook of my arm (inside of my elbow) b/c he can be a bit nibbly if he's on my shoulder. It's worked out fine. In time I'll try allowing him on my shoulders again.

Best of luck!

Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France

Re: Little Help with my Green Cheek

He is grooming you, a very clear sign of affection but big ouch. I do a stern no, over a few times then back in cage a couple of minutes. Imperfections, scabs, freckles, moles are like a big beacon to mine, which can't be resisted.

Re: Little Help with my Green Cheek

The other thing you can do is conure "talk", if he goes to bite at them you can give a loudish "ACK" or "EEK" at him (just like he does to you to tel you it doesn't feel good). Sometimes I even do a head butt to reinforce it, but I am weird. This will be a clear sign to stop.

Remember though, that he probably thinks your moles are parasites and he is doing his best to rid you of them. And at the very least you can have free mole removal service...much cheaper than the dermatologist and just as effective.

Re: Little Help with my Green Cheek

Re: Little Help with my Green Cheek

I would actually not let him on your shoulder. Shoulders can cause a lot of problems for birds, behaviorally that is. It's much easier to teach him young that shoulders are not perches! I know it can be nice to let them hang out up there, but getting a pissy bird off you shoulder can be awful!

Re: Little Help with my Green Cheek

I do this thing with Nichi (my 3 month old GCC) that really helps training out bad behavior – I use a “time out” cage which I cover with the black blanket. I’ve used it for the biting and to teach him not to go on my shelves, and it’s been pretty successful. The way it works is – when he starts biting too hard I vocalize a short and loud “SHHH SHHH!” and put him in the time-out and saying No Bite. He stays there for about a minute. I pull him out before he starts to squawk. Now it’s to the point that when we are playing and he starts to get too rough, all I have to do is the “SHHH SHHH!” and he stops. He’ll actually continue beaking me gently. He didn’t get one time out in the last three days and that’s a record. The last time he bit me was actual aggression – he was eating and I put my hand in the cage to give the little punk a nutiberry and he attacked. Well I put him right in the naughty cage. He got the point. I also used this method to teach him not to go on my shelf and it’s worked – it’s been at least a week since he’s flown up to my shelves.

I actually agree that you should avoid having your bird on your shoulder (although it’s fun) Nichi does have shoulder privileges because so far the “SHHH SHHH!” works so well. It is teaching him bad manners, though. He’s loves company and when we have people over, he hops on everyone’s shoulder and will try biting their ears - my guess that when he gets clipped, this will help.